The Jacksonville Jaguars’ welcomed gamers again to the Miller Electrical Middle on Tuesday, April eighth because the inaugural offseason program kicked off underneath the management trio of head coach Liam Coen, basic supervisor James Gladstone, and Govt Vice President of Soccer Operations Tony Boselli.
With Tuesday kicking off part one of many groups’ offseason program – two weeks of conferences, energy and conditioning, and rehabilitation head coach Liam Coen spoke with the assembled media, adopted up by linebacker Foye Oluokun and quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Full Media Availability:
New scheme, new coaches, similar Foye
Staff Captain, MLB Foye Oluokun first took to the rostrum to debate his introduction to new defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile’s scheme and mentioned the pure difficulties in studying a number of schemes over a number of years of late.
“I believe that’s a problem each time you step into a brand new system or new coordinators, new coaches. One: simply embracing teaching; two: simply trusting what they’ve in retailer, trusting their plan; three: simply understanding regardless of the scheme is or regardless of the plans are and nonetheless taking part in your finest soccer. I believe that’s at all times going to be a problem while you’ve received new teammates, new coaches, and every thing. So actually embracing every thing and trusting that every thing is supposed for the higher of the staff.”
Foye, in addition to different veteran defenders in Jacksonville since 2022, might be coming into their third defensive scheme after Mike Caldwell (2022-2023) and Ryan Nielsen (2024) had been each relieved as defensive coordinator. And whereas which may be the character of the game, it does not make it any simpler, as Oluokun took a second of vulnerability to elucidate:
“If I will be actual with you, I believe that is perhaps one thing that’s not talked about loads, however I believe going by means of lots of coaches, lots of programs, whether or not offensively or defensively, can take a toll.
I believe if you happen to go about it with the proper mindset, of studying and understanding, that it could possibly make your recreation higher – accepting what they’re attempting to teach you on and stuff.”
Nevertheless, one may say that Foye has been ready for this NFL lifetime of fixed personnel and scheme change since his faculty days at Yale. Many followers is probably not conscious that Oluokun performed cornerbacks, security, and linebacker in faculty – forcing him to be taught all the defensive playbook (alignments, calls, coverages, and the way it all works collectively). Foye mentioned how these experiences helped to sharpen and develop the psychological elements of his recreation.
“I believe so simply because, one, you may perceive what different positions are doing as you’re going. You may perceive the ‘why,’ no matter your job accountability is so vital. Possibly it’s to assist out a security, perhaps it’s to assist out a nook and their job accountability. However I believe simply going ahead, or going by means of the NFL, as quickly as I got here to the NFL I modified positions to a linebacker.
I’m at all times studying new ideas, new playbook, with the intention to do properly, with the intention to achieve success. So, coming into a brand new coordinator, it’s nothing new for me when it comes to adapting and studying, and having to execute on the fly. Like as you stated, perhaps that flexibility all through my faculty profession form of geared me to start out pondering like that, at all times having the ability to adapt with no matter comes.”
Getting stronger, harder – key to offseason
With the offseason program in full swing, incoming Director of Power and Conditioning, Eric Ciano made his first introductions to the staff, working with them over the prior two days. With the groups’ offseason emphasis on being a harder group, Ciano appears to be ground-zero to plant the preliminary seeds, as Foye mentioned:
“It’s good vitality. That’s one factor, particularly after the primary two days I simply labored out with him. In the event that they’re that very same particular person day by day, it’s going to be nice for the staff. He’s going to grind us. I believe it’s going to be so good for us going ahead. We’ve simply received to have a development mentality to know that simply because we’re feeling a bit of drained at the moment, if we carry on this path, you’re going to superb by the top of OTAs, by the top of coaching camp. I’m excited for the place this staff can go, lifting with him and stuff. However he’s working us, so I’m excited.”
Lawrence pacing his restoration rehab
When a beginning NFL quarterback ends the season injured, all eyes routinely pivot to their rehab, rightfully. For Jaguars followers and media alike, this could be no completely different, with the $275-million Lawrence present process a December surgical procedure to restore an AC joint concern in his non-throwing shoulder. Lawrence appeared assured that he can be rehabilitated and able to play earlier than the video games grew to become dwell, nevertheless.
“Effectively, I imply there’s not likely a set like deadline on it simply because we don’t play a recreation until this fall. Clearly, I’m going to be prepared prior to that, however so I’m very optimistic I’ll be completely good for the season, however so far as excellent now, I believe simply form of pacing ourselves as OTAs go, and dealing myself as much as the place I’m in form so far as throwing, and so I assume the quantity of throws is perhaps a bit of lighter to start out and work our approach up simply till I get actually totally again. However I think about that after which perhaps just a few handoff stuff might be a bit of restricted, however moreover that I believe that gained’t final too lengthy. So I don’t have a [timeline].”
And whereas Lawrence has positioned himself on a self-imposed pitch-count, he did affirm that he’s on the stage of restoration the place he has been throwing this offseason.
“Yeah, I’m throwing and clearly, I’m form of progressing and dealing my approach up, additional distance, extra throws. Simply attempting to be good and never simply bounce off into the deep finish immediately, simply attempting to work as much as it.”
Footwork changes: a mandatory change
Coach Coen spoke with SiriusXM NFL Radio slightly below every week in the past, confirming that the employees was working with Lawrence to tweak a couple of gadgets involving his footwork.
When requested about his footwork adjustment progress and course of, to his credit score, Lawrence didn’t shrink back from a full, encompassing response (editors’ word: Lawrence’s response has been shortened for brevity):
“Yeah, simply there’s some issues that—there’s some issues I’ve identified about my footwork through the years of taking part in that I felt like have been a bit of little bit of a weak point, so there’s some issues that we’ve talked about of simply, ‘what are these issues? What are we figuring out as issues to work on?’
Then, the system is constructed round timing and tying your ft to your development… So, I believe they’ve been a very good job with the system of actually pondering by means of how does it tie right into a quarterbacks’ ft? That’s what we’ve been speaking about, and it takes some work and flipping my stance, just a few little issues like that which are small that many individuals wouldn’t discover, however it’s. I’ve so many banked reps of the opposite approach, I’ve received to only get all these alone and work them. So as soon as camp comes round, I’m able to go.”
Life with out Evan Engram and Christian Kirk might be completely different
A lot ado has been made this low season surrounding the departures of receiver Christian Kirk and tight finish Evan Engram. Each Engram and Kirk have been two of Lawrence’s main receiving targets for the previous three seasons.
Uncommon stat from 2022-24 for a narrative this week (ESPN Analysis):
When concentrating on anybody EXCEPT Christian Kirk and Evan Engram, Lawrence was sacked 80 occasions in 1,070 dropbacks
When concentrating on Kirk and Engram, he was NOT sacked in 517 dropbacks
Large adjustment for him with out each.
— Michael DiRocco (@ESPNdirocco) March 19, 2025
Moreover, each gamers had been his shut buddies, which he mentioned.
“It’s robust. Yeah, it’s exhausting. You construct relationships with guys and sadly, I’ve seen—these two guys are a bit of completely different as a result of we spent three years collectively and I assume the vast majority of my time right here, moreover my rookie 12 months. So, it’s exhausting seeing guys go and it’s a part of the enterprise, sadly. It’s simply, you’ve received to form of take it for what it’s and transfer on truthfully.
However the relationship piece of it’ll at all times be there. We constructed particular relationships and friendships that fortunately will final exterior of this being on the identical staff. So I believe that’s the benefit of it as a result of there’s sure individuals, once they go away, it’s like that was my man, however you form of lose contact a bit of bit, however these are two guys that may at all times keep in contact.”
However, it is nonetheless ‘Duval Til We Die (DTWD)’, as Lawrence was certain to finish with these (semi) well-wishes to his buddies:
“We’ll be shut buddies and clearly, want nothing however the very best for them, aside from twice a 12 months with Christian, and I believe we play the Broncos this 12 months too, so as soon as for Evan.”
What had been your takeaways from Lawrence’s and Oluokun’s offseason, part one opening presser? Tell us within the feedback!